Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen beats Lando Norris to pole to set up thrilling F1 title decider
Max Verstappen claimed a dominant pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but championship leader Lando Norris took second to remain in position to win his first drivers’ title.
Red Bull’s Verstappen, who trails Norris by 12 points going into Sunday’s title-deciding race, delivered two laps good enough for pole at the Yas Marina Circuit, but the Brit crucially edged out his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by three hundredths of a second.
Norris will guarantee his maiden title if he finishes in the top three on Sunday, but could also triumph with a lesser result in the event Verstappen failed to win the race.
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Max Verstappen takes pole ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to set up an epic season decider in Abu Dhabi.
Piastri’s already faint hopes of sealing his first title suffered a blow, with the Australian likely to require major misfortune for his rivals to overturn a 16-point deficit to Norris and to also leapfrog Verstappen.
Should Verstappen retain the lead at the start, the Dutchman could potentially use his position to back Norris and Piastri into the pack behind them.
George Russell is the most likely candidate to challenge the McLarens from behind after taking fourth for Mercedes.
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Lewis Hamilton was knocked out of Q1 for the final time this season during qualifying at the Abu Dhabi GP.
Charles Leclerc was fifth for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton’s woeful end to his debut campaign with the Italian team continued as he made a third successive Q1 exit to leave him 16th on the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda, who earlier this week found out he will lose his Red Bull seat next year, will start 10th after appearing to sacrifice his own grid position to support his team-mate Verstappen with a tow during the final part of the session.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Sunday December 7
9.10am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up*
1pm: THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX*
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 Formula 1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend with Sunday’s race at 1pm (build-up from 11am). Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
